Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating
Review: People will either react violently to this book, or they will acknowledge its truth. They will react violently because it bespeaks a whole new language of wisdom, how we view ourselves, and the world. They will acknowledge and embrace its truth because they know in their cores that something about this book is worth considering.All of the time we spend in front of the television, Mander says, is mediated by so many factors outside of our inherent awareness (the here, now) that we have little choice but to use it as our only source of information. That alone warrants the abandonment of television as an unbiased information source. Mander argues extensively, and conclusively, about how we are closing our minds by watching television. It is very compelling for someone who has been wondering for a while what could have made people lose trust in their own truth, and their ability to think for themselves. Could it be something in our environment, in the way we structure our lives? Could it be that the way that we are trained to think by mediums such as television is that "we know all we need to know"? He does go off on other diatribes related to his "argument" for cessation of television. They are very well delivered, however, and warrant a serious read. His writing style makes you think for yourself, and the introduction chapter dedicates itself to explaining to you how he wrote the book and what his purpose was by having you read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Makes one want to sue the author for the wasted time
Review: Despite its promising title and back cover content, this book is worthy of a Fox TV special. The so-called four arguments are sloppy and incoherent and whenever the author calls upon "real research" to make his case, he ends up abusing science and exposing his complete scientific illiteracy (the section on light "emanations" is especially poor). His socio-political arguments border on the extreme and in many cases take a dip into paranoia (e.g. positing that TV conditions for "autocratic control"). At the occasional point where the author was on the verge of making a very good point, he ruins it by going beyond what his premises warrant and into the pit of unqualified speculation. Overall, this book is saddening to read not only for what it is, but also for what it could have been.
Rating: 
Summary: When Bad Authors Happen to Good Ideas
Review: Alright, I hate television as I'm sure most of you do if you are looking into buying this book. Unfortunately this 350 page book is a complete waste of time. From the title I expected to see Four ARGUMENTS. Instead each argument turned out to be nothing more than pointless rants. After drudging through the first two sections, I really had my hopes up for the third, "Effects of Television on the Human Being." Again, I was sadly mistaken. I found myself laughing out loud as the author dictates his adventures in researching this topic only to find out that there is no evidence relating to TV! Don't get me wrong TV [is bad], but this is definitely not the book to reaffirm you're beliefs or ARGUE for the removal of television. Save your money!
Rating:
Summary: Read it
Review: You will not regret reading this book. I'd give it ten stars if I could. It is a sure thing. Everything in this book is true and makes perfect sense. It will ruin you though. once you have finished it you'll kick yourself for the tenth of you're life you've spent watching the idiot box and you'll feel sorry for all those who continue to do so. IT WILL OPEN YOU EYES!!! Even if you don't think your blind.
The best I can sum it up is: Forgive them lord for they know not what they do.
Rating:
Summary: My TV has now been disconnected 4+ months...
Review: ...and as I peruse this book it only assures me I should not and can not "go back to the way things were". It has been praised by other reviewers far better than I could, so all I will say is that it is a very UNIQUE book. It covers statistics and surveys you will never find in Time magazine, and it examines even the physics behind the images, the way camera shots change frequently, etc. I have not even read every page, there is just SO much in there! The parallels to "Brave New World" or "1984", in terms of the power this one technology has in controlling masses of people... Well, it's simply staggering. The little tidbit about the TV "news" program being almost a miniature "family"... Well, that was news to me but in hindsight makes a lot of sense. I am now extremely skeptical of the value and the benefit of TV as a whole. I pray more people hear about this book, written in the 1970's but even MORE timely today! Don't read this if you are too weak to give up your music videos and mindless sitcoms... Perhaps you would be happier remaining one of millions of "sheeple". Maybe buy a copy and give it to your kids, while there's still time - they're our hope for the future!
Rating: 
Summary: His name can't really be "Jerry Mander"..can it?
Review: Does he know Pete Moss? Myra Mains? Seymour Butz? I.P. Daily?
Rating:
Summary: Not a perfect book, but an engaging and insightful one
Review: /Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television/ is conclusive evidence that the way television is currently used is damaging and should be heavily reformed. Admittedly, Jerry Mander isn't great with words; he runs off on technophiliac tangents and once demeans scientists pointedly for being slow to study the effects of television. However, his main arguments are solid, and his book is good at getting the reader thinking about the larger picture outside that of the television screen. I would recommend this book to anyone who occasionally remarks offhand, "I think I must be addicted to TV", and then laughs nervously.
Rating:
Summary: A great disappointment and an irrational mess
Review: The author does not have "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television." Instead, he has a ton of thoughts that he throws at the reader, which he generally tries to organize into four broad sections he calls arguments. "Argument" one is really nothing more than the statement that the authors preferred worldview is incompatible with that of America (including television representations of it). "Argument" two is to point to the concentrated control of television by corporate interests (i.e. the rich) - this is worth discussing but is an argument for REFORM rather than ELIMINATION (although Mander claims this is inherent to the medium to be dominated in this way...) Argument three is a combination of junk science and legitimate physical effects that television viewing can have on the body. Since Mander is obviously no scientist, the section verges on paranoid hysteria and lacks any grounded perspective of the cumulative effects (or lack thereof) on most people. Mander shows his ignorance of theory construction generally, and medicine and evolution specifically. The result is similar to "grand social theorists" of several centuries ago - far too many ideas and far too attempts to confirm their truth (if something seems possible, it is assumed to be, simply because it fits in, rather than because it has been tested and confirmed...)
The last argument - that television message are inherently limited in their sophistication, should merely be an argument for BALANCING television with other artivities. There are various passages (perhaps even a few entire chapters) that I consider acceptable here, but far too much junk cluttering up the "arguments." This is a case where I am willing to agree with many of the conclusions of the author, but find his methods of "reasoning" to be completely inappropriate and ineffective at guiding a truly informed audience to that same conclusion. Selective content in the book is worthwhile, and at the time it may have been groundbreaking (although it reads like it was written during the 60s Vietnam era rather than the 70s when it was published) and for this reason I give the book a 2 star rating. Readers wishing a fair assessment of the effects of television technology should definitely look elsewhere, however.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you Mr. Mander
Review: Although I read this book many years ago, I referred to it when I wrote my recently published book, HOW TO SAVE AMERICA AND THE WORLD by Joseph Francione. In fact, it is listed in the bibliography. Mr. Mander got me thinking about things that led to my taking a more active approach to every facet of my life from what I view on TV to how I think about what I view. If you read this book and agree with his central thesis, you might want to check out my book. I look at more than just this one issue. Great job Mr. Mander.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Overview of Television's Inherent Biases
Review: This book, along with "Amusing Ourselves To Death" by Neil Postman, is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the
inherent biases of the medium of television. The author's background in the advertising industry and as an enviromental activist have given him valuable insight into why the medium is
useful in promoting the values of its corporate controllers but
not the alternative values of ecology or the world view of Native
American Cultures. There are a few needless digressions on the
potential health effects of artificial light but for the most part the reader will profit from the author's analysis. I was
left with one question. To what degree can the same criticism
be applied to either radio or film?
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